City of Lost Souls Hardcover - 2012

Summary

Excerpt

1
THE LAST COUNCIL

âÈêHow much longer will the verdict take, do you think?âÈë Clary asked. She had no idea how long theyâÈçd been waiting, but it felt like ten hours. There were no clocks in IsabelleâÈçs black and hot-pink powder-puff bedroom, just piles of clothes, heaps of books, stacks of weapons, a vanity overflowing with sparkling makeup, used brushes, and open drawers spilling lacy slips, sheer tights, and feather boas. It had a certain backstage-at-La-Cage-aux-Folles design aesthetic, but over the past two weeks Clary had spent enough time among the glittering mess to have begun to find it comforting.

Isabelle, standing over by the window with Church in her arms, stroked the catâÈçs head absently. Church regarded her with baleful yellow eyes. Outside the window a November storm was in full bloom, rain streaking the windows like clear paint. âÈêNot much longer,âÈë she said slowly. She wasnâÈçt wearing any makeup, which made her look younger, her dark eyes bigger. âÈêFive minutes, probably.âÈë

Clary, sitting on IzzyâÈçs bed between a pile of magazines and a rattling stack of seraph blades, swallowed hard against the bitter taste in her throat. IâÈçll be back. Five minutes.

That had been the last thing she had said to the boy she loved more than anything else in the world. Now she thought it might be the last thing she would ever get to say to him.

Clary remembered the moment perfectly. The roof garden. The crystalline October night, the stars burning icy white against a cloudless black sky. The paving stones smeared with black runes, spattered with ichor and blood. JaceâÈçs mouth on hers, the only warm thing in a shivering world. Clasping the Morgenstern ring around her neck. The love that moves the sun and all the other stars. Turning to look for him as the elevator took her away, sucking her back down into the shadows of the building. She had joined the others in the lobby, hugging her mother, Luke, Simon, but some part of her, as it always was, had still been with Jace, floating above the city on that rooftop, the two of them alone in the cold and brilliant electric city.

Maryse and Kadir had been the ones to get into the elevator to join Jace on the roof and to see the remains of LilithâÈçs ritual. It was another ten minutes before Maryse returned, alone. When the doors had opened and Clary had seen her faceâÈ'white and set and franticâÈ'she had known.

What had happened next had been like a dream. The crowd of Shadowhunters in the lobby had surged toward Maryse; Alec had broken away from Magnus, and Isabelle had leaped to her feet. White bursts of light cut through the darkness like the soft explosions of camera flashes at a crime scene as, one after another, seraph blades lit the shadows. Pushing her way forward, Clary heard the story in broken piecesâÈ'the rooftop garden was empty; Jace was gone. The glass coffin that had held Sebastian had been smashed open; glass was lying everywhere in fragments. Blood, still fresh, dripped down the pedestal on which the coffin had sat.

The Shadowhunters were making plans quickly, to spread out in a radius and search the area around the building. Magnus was there, his hands sparking blue, turning to Clary to ask if she had something of JaceâÈçs they could track him with. Numbly, she gave him the Morgenstern ring and retreated into a corner to call Simon. She had only just closed the phone when the voice of a Shadowhunter rang out above the rest. âÈêTracking? ThatâÈçll work only if heâÈçs still alive. With that much blood itâÈçs not very likelyâÈ'âÈë

Somehow that was the last straw. Prolonged hypothermia, exhaustion, and shock took their toll, and she felt her knees give. Her mother caught her before she hit the ground. There was a dark blur after that. She woke up the next morning in her bed at LukeâÈçs, sitting bolt upright with her heart going like a trip-hammer, sure she had had a nightmare.

As she struggled out of bed, the fading bruises on her arms and legs told a different story, as did the absence of her ring. Throwing on jeans and a hoodie, she staggered out into the living room to find Jocelyn, Luke, and Simon seated there with somber expressions on their faces. She didnâÈçt even need to ask, but she did anyway: âÈêDid they find him? Is he back?âÈë

Jocelyn stood up. âÈêSweetheart, heâÈçs still missingâÈ'âÈë

âÈêBut not dead? They havenâÈçt found a body?âÈë She collapsed onto the couch next to Simon. âÈêNoâÈ'heâÈçs not dead. IâÈçd know.âÈë

She remembered Simon holding her hand while Luke told her what they did know: that Jace was still gone, and so was Sebastian. The bad news was that the blood on the pedestal had been identified as JaceâÈçs. The good news was that there was less of it than they had thought; it had mixed with the water from the coffin to give the impression of a greater volume of blood than there had really been. They now thought it was quite possible he had survived whatever had happened.

âÈêBut what happened?âÈë she demanded.

Luke shook his head, blue eyes somber. âÈêNobody knows, Clary.âÈë

Her veins felt as if her blood had been replaced with ice water. âÈêI want to help. I want to do something. I donâÈçt want to just sit here while Jace is missing.âÈë

âÈêI wouldnâÈçt worry about that,âÈë Jocelyn said grimly. âÈêThe Clave wants to see you.âÈë

Invisible ice cracked in ClaryâÈçs joints and tendons as she stood up. âÈêFine. Whatever. IâÈçll tell them anything they want if theyâÈçll find Jace.âÈë

âÈêYouâÈçll tell them anything they want because they have the Mortal Sword.âÈë There was despair in JocelynâÈçs voice. âÈêOh, baby. IâÈçm so sorry.âÈë

And now, after two weeks of repetitive testimony, after scores of witnesses had been called, after she had held the Mortal Sword a dozen times, Clary sat in IsabelleâÈçs bedroom and waited for the Council to rule on her fate. She couldnâÈçt help but remember what it had felt like to hold the Mortal Sword. It was like tiny fishhooks embedded in your skin, pulling the truth out of you. She had knelt, holding it, in the circle of the Speaking Stars and had heard her own voice telling the Council everything: how Valentine had raised the Angel Raziel, and how she had taken the power of controlling the Angel from him by erasing his name in the sand and writing hers over it. She had told them how the Angel had offered her one wish, and she had used it to raise Jace from the dead; she told them how Lilith had possessed Jace and Lilith had planned to use SimonâÈçs blood to resurrect Sebastian, ClaryâÈçs brother, whom Lilith regarded as a son. How SimonâÈçs Mark of Cain had ended Lilith, and they had thought Sebastian had been ended too, no longer a threat.

Clary sighed and flipped her phone open to check the time. âÈêTheyâÈçve been in there for an hour,âÈë she said. âÈêIs that normal? Is it a bad sign?âÈë

Isabelle dropped Church, who let out a yowl. She came over to the bed and sat down beside Clary. Isabelle looked even more slender than usualâÈ'like Clary, sheâÈçd lost weight in the past two weeksâÈ'but elegant as always, in black cigarette pants and a fitted gray velvet top. Mascara was smudged all around IzzyâÈçs eyes, which should have made her look like a racoon but just made her look like a French film star instead. She stretched her arms out, and her electrum bracelets with their rune charms jingled musically. âÈêNo, itâÈçs not a bad sign,âÈë she said. âÈêIt just means they have a lot to talk over.âÈë She twisted the Lightwood ring on her finger. âÈêYouâÈçll be fine. You didnâÈçt break the Law. ThatâÈçs the important thing.âÈë

Clary sighed. Even the warmth of IsabelleâÈçs shoulder next to hers couldnâÈçt melt the ice in her veins. She knew that technically she had broken no Laws, but she also knew the Clave was furious at her. It was illegal for a Shadowhunter to raise the dead, but not for the Angel to do it; nevertheless it was such an enormous thing she had done in asking for JaceâÈçs life back that she and Jace had agreed to tell no one about it.

Now it was out, and it had rocked the Clave. Clary knew they wanted to punish her, if only because her choice had had such disastrous consequences. In some way she wished they would punish her. Break her bones, pull her fingernails out, let the Silent Brothers root through her brain with their bladed thoughts. A sort of devilâÈçs bargainâÈ'her own pain for JaceâÈçs safe return. It would have helped her guilt over having left Jace behind on that rooftop, even though Isabelle and the others had told her a hundred times she was being ridiculousâÈ'that they had all thought he was perfectly safe there, and that if Clary had stayed, she would probably now be missing too.

âÈêQuit it,âÈë Isabelle said. For a moment Clary wasnâÈçt sure if Isabelle was talking to her or to the cat. Church was doing what he often did when droppedâÈ'lying on his back with all four legs in the air, pretending to be dead in order to induce guilt in his owners. But then Isabelle swept her black hair aside, glaring, and Clary realized she was the one being told off, not the cat.

âÈêQuit what?âÈë

âÈêMorbidly thinking about all the horrible things that are going to happen to you, or that you wish would happen to you because youâÈçre alive and Jace isâÈö missing.âÈë IsabelleâÈçs voice jumped, like a record skipping a groove. She never spoke of Jace as being dead or even goneâÈ'she and Alec refused to entertain the possibility. And Isabelle had never reproached Clary once for keeping such an enormous secret. Throughout everything, in fact, Isabelle had been her staunchest defender. Meeting her every day at the door to the Council Hall, she had held Clary firmly by the arm as sheâÈçd marched her past clumps of glaring, muttering Shadowhunters. She had waited through endless Council interrogations, shooting dagger glances at anyone who dared look at Clary sideways. Clary had been astonished. She and Isabelle had never been enormously close, both of them being the sort of girls who were more comfortable with boys than other female companionship. But Isabelle didnâÈçt leave her side. Clary was as bewildered as she was grateful.

âÈêI canâÈçt help it,âÈë Clary said. âÈêIf I were allowed to patrolâÈ'if I were allowed to do anythingâÈ'I think it wouldnâÈçt be so bad.âÈë

âÈêI donâÈçt know.âÈë Isabelle sounded weary. For the past two weeks she and Alec had been exhausted and gray-faced from sixteen-hour patrols and searches. When Clary had found out she was banned from patrolling or searching for Jace in any way until the Council decided what to do about the fact that she had brought him back from the dead, she had kicked a hole in her bedroom door. âÈêSometimes it feels so futile,âÈë Isabelle added.

Ice crackled up and down ClaryâÈçs bones. âÈêYou mean you think heâÈçs dead?âÈë

âÈêNo, I donâÈçt. I mean I think thereâÈçs no way theyâÈçre still in New York.âÈë

âÈêBut theyâÈçre patrolling in other cities, right?âÈë Clary put a hand to her throat, forgetting that the Morgenstern ring no longer hung there. Magnus was still trying to track Jace, though no tracking had yet worked.

âÈêOf course they are.âÈë Isabelle reached out curiously and touched the delicate silver bell that hung around ClaryâÈçs neck now, in place of the ring. âÈêWhatâÈçs that?âÈë

Clary hesitated. The bell had been a gift from the Seelie Queen. No, that wasnâÈçt quite right. The Queen of the faeries didnâÈçt give gifts. The bell was meant to signal the Seelie Queen that Clary wanted her help. Clary had found her hand wandering to it more and more often as the days dragged on with no sign of Jace. The only thing that stopped Clary was the knowledge that the Seelie Queen never gave anything without the expectation of something terrible in return.

Before Clary could reply to Isabelle, the door opened. Both girls sat up ramrod straight, Clary clutching one of IzzyâÈçs pink pillows so hard that the rhinestones on it dug into the skin of her palms.

âÈêHey.âÈë A slim figure stepped into the room and shut the door. Alec, IsabelleâÈçs older brother, was dressed in Council wearâÈ'a black robe figured with silver runes, open now over jeans and a long-sleeved black T-shirt. All the black made his pale skin look paler, his crystal-blue eyes bluer. His hair was black and straight like his sisterâÈçs, but shorter, cut just above his jawline. His mouth was set in a thin line.

ClaryâÈçs heart started to pound. Alec didnâÈçt look happy. Whatever the news was, it couldnâÈçt be good.

It was Isabelle who spoke. âÈêHow did it go?âÈë she said quietly. âÈêWhatâÈçs the verdict?âÈë

Alec sat down at the vanity table, swinging himself around the chair to face Izzy and Clary over the back. At another time it would have been comicalâÈ'Alec was very tall, with long legs like a dancer, and the way he folded himself awkwardly around the chair made it look like dollhouse furniture.

âÈêClary,âÈë he said. âÈêJia Penhallow handed down the verdict. YouâÈçre cleared of any wrongdoing. You broke no Laws, and Jia feels that youâÈçve been punished enough.âÈë

Isabelle exhaled an audible breath and smiled. For just a moment a feeling of relief broke through the layer of ice over all of ClaryâÈçs emotions. She wasnâÈçt going to be punished, locked up in the Silent City, trapped somewhere where she couldnâÈçt help Jace. Luke, who as the representative of the werewolves on the Council had been present for the verdict, had promised to call Jocelyn as soon as the meeting ended, but Clary reached for her phone anyway; the prospect of giving her mother good news for a change was too tempting.

âÈêClary,âÈë Alec said as she flipped her phone open. âÈêWait.âÈë

She looked at him. His expression was still as serious as an undertakerâÈçs. With a sudden sense of foreboding, Clary put her phone back down on the bed. âÈêAlecâÈ'what is it?âÈë

âÈêIt wasnâÈçt your verdict that took the Council so long,âÈë said Alec. âÈêThere was another matter under discussion.âÈë

The ice was back. Clary shivered. âÈêJace?âÈë

âÈêNot exactly.âÈë Alec leaned forward, folding his hands along the back of the chair. âÈêA report came in early this morning from the Moscow Institute. The wardings over Wrangel Island were smashed through yesterday. TheyâÈçve sent a repair team, but having such important wards down for so longâÈ'thatâÈçs a Council priority.âÈë

WardsâÈ'which served, as Clary understood it, as a sort of magical fence systemâÈ'surrounded Earth, put there by the first generation of Shadowhunters. They could be bypassed by demons but not easily, and kept out the vast majority of them, preventing the world from being flooded by a massive demon invasion. She remembered something that Jace had said to her, what felt like years ago: There used to be only small demon invasions into this world, easily contained. But even in my lifetime more and more of them have spilled in through the wardings.

âÈêWell, thatâÈçs bad,âÈë Clary said. âÈêBut I donâÈçt see what it has to do withâÈ'âÈë

âÈêThe Clave has its priorities,âÈë Alec interrupted. âÈêSearching for Jace and Sebastian has been top priority for the past two weeks. But theyâÈçve scoured everything, and thereâÈçs no sign of either of them in any Downworld haunt. None of MagnusâÈçs tracking spells have worked. Elodie, the woman who brought up the real Sebastian Verlac, confirmed that no oneâÈçs tried to get in touch with her. That was a long shot, anyway. No spies have reported any unusual activity among the known members of ValentineâÈçs old Circle. And the Silent Brothers havenâÈçt been able to figure out exactly what the ritual Lilith performed was supposed to do, or whether it succeeded. The general consensus is that SebastianâÈ'of course, they call him Jonathan when they talk about himâÈ'kidnapped Jace, but thatâÈçs not anything we didnâÈçt know.âÈë

âÈêSo?âÈë Isabelle said. âÈêWhat does that mean? More searching? More patrolling?âÈë

Alec shook his head. âÈêTheyâÈçre not discussing expanding the search,âÈë he said quietly. âÈêTheyâÈçre de-prioritizing it. ItâÈçs been two weeks and they havenâÈçt found anything. The specially commissioned groups brought over from Idris are going to be sent home. The situation with the ward is taking priority now. Not to mention that the Council has been in the middle of delicate negotiations, updating the Laws to allow for the new makeup of the Council, appointing a new Consul and Inquisitor, determining different treatment of DownworldersâÈ'they donâÈçt want to be thrown completely off track.âÈë

Clary stared. âÈêThey donâÈçt want JaceâÈçs disappearance to throw them off the track of changing a bunch of stupid old Laws? TheyâÈçre giving up?âÈë

âÈêTheyâÈçre not giving upâÈ'âÈë

âÈêAlec,âÈë Isabelle said sharply.

Alec took a breath and put his hands up to cover his face. He had long fingers, like JaceâÈçs, scarred like JaceâÈçs were as well. The eye Mark of the Shadowhunters decorated the back of his right hand. âÈêClary, for youâÈ'for usâÈ'this has always been about searching for Jace. For the Clave itâÈçs about searching for Sebastian. Jace as well, but primarily Sebastian. HeâÈçs the danger. He destroyed the wards of Alicante. HeâÈçs a mass murderer. Jace isâÈöâÈë

âÈêJust another Shadowhunter,âÈë said Isabelle. âÈêWe die and go missing all the time.âÈë

âÈêHe gets a little extra for being a hero of the Mortal War,âÈë said Alec. âÈêBut in the end the Clave was clear: The search will be kept up, but right now itâÈçs a waiting game. They expect Sebastian to make the next move. In the meantime itâÈçs third priority for the Clave. If that. They expect us to go back to normal life.âÈë

Normal life? Clary couldnâÈçt believe it. A normal life without Jace?

âÈêThatâÈçs what they told us after Max died,âÈë said Izzy, her black eyes tearless but burning with anger. âÈêThat weâÈçd get over our grief faster if we just went back to normal life.âÈë

âÈêItâÈçs supposed to be good advice,âÈë said Alec from behind his fingers.

âÈêTell that to Dad. Did he even come back from Idris for the meeting?âÈë

Alec shook his head, dropping his hands. âÈêNo. If itâÈçs any consolation, there were a lot of people at the meeting speaking out angrily on behalf of keeping the search for Jace up at full strength. Magnus, obviously, Luke, Consul Penhallow, even Brother Zachariah. But at the end of the day it wasnâÈçt enough.âÈë

Clary looked at him steadily. âÈêAlec,âÈë she said. âÈêDonâÈçt you feel anything?âÈë

AlecâÈçs eyes widened, their blue darkening, and for a moment Clary remembered the boy who had hated her when sheâÈçd first arrived at the Institute, the boy with bitten nails and holes in his sweaters and a chip on his shoulder that had seemed immovable. âÈêI know youâÈçre upset, Clary,âÈë he said, his voice sharp, âÈêbut if youâÈçre suggesting that Iz and I care less about Jace than you doâÈ'âÈë

âÈêIâÈçm not,âÈë Clary said. âÈêIâÈçm talking about your parabatai connection. I was reading about the ceremony in the Codex. I know being parabatai ties the two of you together. You can sense things about Jace. Things that will help you when youâÈçre fighting. So I guess I meanâÈö can you sense if heâÈçs still alive?âÈë

âÈêClary.âÈë Isabelle sounded worried. âÈêI thought you didnâÈçtâÈöâÈë

âÈêHeâÈçs alive,âÈë Alec said cautiously. âÈêYou think IâÈçd be this functional if he werenâÈçt alive? ThereâÈçs definitely something fundamentally wrong. I can feel that much. But heâÈçs still breathing.âÈë

âÈêCould the âÈæwrongâÈç thing be that heâÈçs being held prisoner?âÈë said Clary in a small voice.

Alec looked toward the windows, the sheeting gray rain. âÈêMaybe. I canâÈçt explain it. IâÈçve never felt anything like it before.âÈë

âÈêBut heâÈçs alive.âÈë

Alec looked at her directly then. âÈêIâÈçm sure of it.âÈë

âÈêThen screw the Council. WeâÈçll find him ourselves,âÈë Clary said.

âÈêClaryâÈö if that were possibleâÈö donâÈçt you think we already would haveâÈ',âÈë Alec began.

âÈêWe were doing what the Clave wanted us to do before,âÈë said Isabelle. âÈêPatrols, searches. There are other ways.âÈë

âÈêWays that break the Law, you mean,âÈë said Alec. He sounded hesitant. Clary hoped he wasnâÈçt going to repeat the ShadowhuntersâÈç motto when it came to the Law: Sed lex, dura lex. âÈêThe Law is harsh, but it is the Law.âÈë She didnâÈçt think she could take it.

âÈêThe Seelie Queen offered me a favor,âÈë Clary said. âÈêAt the fireworks party in Idris.âÈë The memory of that night, how happy sheâÈçd been, made her heart contract for a moment, and she had to stop and regain her breath. âÈêAnd a way to contact her.âÈë

âÈêThe Queen of the Fair Folk gives nothing for free.âÈë

âÈêI know that. IâÈçll take whatever debt it is on my shoulders.âÈë Clary remembered the words of the faerie girl who had handed her the bell. You would do anything to save him, whatever it cost you, whatever you might owe to Hell or Heaven, would you not? âÈêI just want one of you to come with me. IâÈçm not good with translating faerie-speak. At least if youâÈçre with me you can limit whatever the damage is. But if thereâÈçs anything she can doâÈ'âÈë

âÈêIâÈçll go with you,âÈë Isabelle said immediately.

Alec looked at his sister darkly. âÈêWe already talked to the Fair Folk. The Council questioned them extensively. And they canâÈçt lie.âÈë

âÈêThe Council asked them if they knew where Jace and Sebastian were,âÈë Clary said. âÈêNot if theyâÈçd be willing to look for them. The Seelie Queen knew about my father, knew about the angel he summoned and trapped, knew the truth about my blood and JaceâÈçs. I think thereâÈçs not much that happens in this world that she doesnâÈçt know about.âÈë

âÈêItâÈçs true,âÈë said Isabelle, a little animation entering into her voice. âÈêYou know you have to ask faeries the exact right things to get useful information out of them, Alec. TheyâÈçre very hard to question, even if they do have to tell the truth. A favor, though, is different.âÈë

âÈêAnd its potential for danger is literally unlimited,âÈë said Alec. âÈêIf Jace knew I let Clary go to the Seelie Queen, heâÈçdâÈ'âÈë

âÈêI donâÈçt care,âÈë Clary said. âÈêHeâÈçd do it for me. Tell me he wouldnâÈçt. If I were missingâÈ'âÈë

âÈêHeâÈçd burn the whole world down till he could dig you out of the ashes. I know,âÈë Alec said, sounding exhausted. âÈêHell, you think I donâÈçt want to burn down the world right now? IâÈçm just trying to beâÈöâÈë

âÈêAn older brother,âÈë said Isabelle. âÈêI get it.âÈë

Alec looked as if he were fighting for control. âÈêIf something happened to you, IsabelleâÈ'after Max, and JaceâÈ'âÈë

Izzy got to her feet, went across the room, and put her arms around Alec. Their dark hair, precisely the same color, mixed together as Isabelle whispered something into her brotherâÈçs ear; Clary watched them with not a little envy. She had always wanted a brother. And she had one now. Sebastian. It was like always wanting a puppy for a pet and being handed a hellhound instead. She watched as Alec tugged his sisterâÈçs hair affectionately, nodded, and released her. âÈêWe should all go,âÈë he said. âÈêBut I have to tell Magnus, at least, what weâÈçre doing. It wouldnâÈçt be fair not to.âÈë

âÈêDo you want to use my phone?âÈë Isabelle asked, offering the battered pink object to him.

Alec shook his head. âÈêHeâÈçs waiting downstairs with the others. YouâÈçll have to give Luke some kind of excuse too, Clary. IâÈçm sure heâÈçs expecting you to go home with him. And he says your motherâÈçs been pretty sick about this whole thing.âÈë

âÈêShe blames herself for SebastianâÈçs existence.âÈë Clary got to her feet. âÈêEven though she thought he was dead all those years.âÈë

âÈêItâÈçs not her fault.âÈë Isabelle pulled her golden whip down from where it hung on the wall and wrapped it around her wrist so that it looked like a ladder of shining bracelets. âÈêNo one blames her.âÈë

âÈêThat never matters,âÈë said Alec. âÈêNot when you blame yourself.âÈë

In silence, the three of them made their way through the corridors of the Institute, oddly crowded now with other Shadowhunters, some of whom were part of the special commissions that had been sent out from Idris to deal with the situation. None of them really looked at Isabelle, Alec, or Clary with much curiosity. Initially Clary had felt so much as if she were being stared atâÈ'and had heard the whispered words âÈêValentineâÈçs daughterâÈë so many timesâÈ'that sheâÈçd started to dread coming to the Institute, but sheâÈçd stood up in front of the Council enough times now that the novelty had worn off.

They took the elevator downstairs; the nave of the Institute was brightly lit with witchlight as well as the usual tapers and was filled with Council members and their families. Luke and Magnus were sitting in a pew, talking to each other; beside Luke was a tall, blue-eyed woman who looked just like him. She had curled her hair and dyed the gray brown, but Clary still recognized herâÈ'LukeâÈçs sister, Amatis.

Magnus got up at the sight of Alec and came over to talk to him; Izzy appeared to recognize someone else across the pews and darted away in her usual manner, without pausing to say where she was going. Clary went to greet Luke and Amatis; both of them looked tired, and Amatis was patting LukeâÈçs shoulder sympathetically. Luke rose to his feet and hugged Clary when he saw her. Amatis congratulated Clary on being cleared by the Council, and she nodded; she felt only half-there, most of her numb and the rest of her responding on autopilot.

She could see Magnus and Alec out of the corner of her eye. They were talking, Alec leaning in close to Magnus, the way couples often seemed to curve into each other when they spoke, in their own contained universe. She was happy to see them happy, but it hurt, too. She wondered if she would ever have that again, or ever even want it again. She remembered JaceâÈçs voice: I donâÈçt even want to want anyone but you.

âÈêEarth to Clary,âÈë said Luke. âÈêDo you want to head home? Your mother is dying to see you, and sheâÈçd love to catch up with Amatis before she goes back to Idris tomorrow. I thought we could have dinner. You pick the restaurant.âÈë He was trying to hide the concern in his voice, but Clary could hear it. She hadnâÈçt been eating much lately, and her clothes had started to hang more loosely on her frame.

âÈêI donâÈçt really feel like celebrating,âÈë she said. âÈêNot with the Council de-prioritizing the search for Jace.âÈë

âÈêClary, it doesnâÈçt mean theyâÈçre going to stop,âÈë said Luke.

âÈêI know. ItâÈçs justâÈ'ItâÈçs like when they say a search and rescue mission is now a search for bodies. ThatâÈçs what it sounds like.âÈë She swallowed. âÈêAnyway, I was thinking of going to TakiâÈçs for dinner with Isabelle and Alec,âÈë she said. âÈêJustâÈö to do something normal.âÈë

Amatis squinted toward the door. âÈêItâÈçs raining pretty hard out there.âÈë

Clary felt her lips stretch into a smile. She wondered if it looked as false as it felt. âÈêI wonâÈçt melt.âÈë

Luke folded some money into her hand, clearly relieved she was doing something as normal as going out with friends. âÈêJust promise to eat something.âÈë

âÈêOkay.âÈë Through the twinge of guilt, she managed a real half smile in his direction before she turned away.



Magnus and Alec were no longer where they had been a moment ago. Glancing around, Clary saw IzzyâÈçs familiar long black hair through the crowd. She was standing by the InstituteâÈçs large double doors, talking to someone Clary couldnâÈçt see. Clary headed toward Isabelle; as she drew closer, she recognized one of the group, with a slight shock of surprise, as Aline Penhallow. Her glossy black hair had been cut stylishly just above her shoulders. Standing next to Aline was a slim girl with pale white-gold hair that curled in ringlets; it was drawn back from her face, showing that the tips of her ears were slightly pointed. She wore Council robes, and as Clary came closer she saw that the girlâÈçs eyes were a brilliant and unusual blue-green, a color that made ClaryâÈçs fingers yearn for her Prismacolor pencils for the first time in two weeks.

âÈêIt must be weird, with your mother being the new Consul,âÈë Isabelle was saying to Aline as Clary joined them. âÈêNot that Jia isnâÈçt much better thanâÈ'Hey, Clary. Aline, you remember Clary.âÈë

The two girls exchanged nods. Clary had once walked in on Aline kissing Jace. It had been awful at the time, but the memory held no sting now. SheâÈçd be relieved to walk in on Jace kissing someone else at this point. At least it would mean he was alive.

âÈêAnd this is AlineâÈçs girlfriend, Helen Blackthorn.âÈë Isabelle said with heavy emphasis. Clary shot her a glare. Did Isabelle think she was an idiot? Besides, she remembered Aline telling her that sheâÈçd kissed Jace only as an experiment to see if any guy were her type. Apparently the answer had been no. âÈêHelenâÈçs family runs the Los Angeles Institute. Helen, this is Clary Fray.âÈë

âÈêValentineâÈçs daughter,âÈë Helen said. She looked surprised and a little impressed.

Clary winced. âÈêI try not to think about that too much.âÈë

âÈêSorry. I can see why you wouldnâÈçt.âÈë Helen flushed. Her skin was very pale, with a slight sheen to it, like a pearl. âÈêI voted for the Council to keep prioritizing the search for Jace, by the way. IâÈçm sorry we were overruled.âÈë

âÈêThanks.âÈë Not wanting to talk about it, Clary turned to Aline. âÈêCongratulations on your mother being made Consul. That must be pretty exciting.âÈë

Aline shrugged. âÈêSheâÈçs busy a lot more now.âÈë She turned to Isabelle. âÈêDid you know your dad put his name in for the Inquisitor position?âÈë

Clary felt Isabelle freeze beside her. âÈêNo. No, I didnâÈçt know that.âÈë

âÈêI was surprised,âÈë Aline added. âÈêI thought he was pretty committed to running the Institute hereâÈ'âÈë She broke off, looking past Clary. âÈêHelen, I think your brother is trying to make the worldâÈçs biggest puddle of melted wax over there. You might want to stop him.âÈë

Helen blew out an exasperated breath, muttered something about twelve-year-old boys, and vanished into the crowd just as Alec pushed his way forward. He greeted Aline with a hugâÈ'Clary forgot, sometimes, that the Penhallows and the Lightwoods had known each other for yearsâÈ'and looked at Helen in the crowd. âÈêIs that your girlfriend?âÈë

Aline nodded. âÈêHelen Blackthorn.âÈë

âÈêI heard thereâÈçs some faerie blood in that family,âÈë said Alec.

Ah, Clary thought. That explained the pointed ears. Nephilim blood was dominant, and the child of a faerie and a Shadowhunter would be a Shadowhunter as well, but sometimes the faerie blood could express itself in odd ways, even generations down the line.

âÈêA little,âÈë said Aline. âÈêLook, I wanted to thank you, Alec.âÈë

Alec looked bewildered. âÈêWhat for?âÈç

âÈêWhat you did in the Hall of Accords,âÈë Aline said. âÈêKissing Magnus like that. It gave me the push I needed to tell my parentsâÈö to come out to them. And if I hadnâÈçt done that, I donâÈçt think, when I met Helen, I would have had the nerve to say anything.âÈë

âÈêOh.âÈë Alec looked startled, as if heâÈçd never considered what impact his actions might have had on anyone outside his immediate family. âÈêAnd your parentsâÈ'were they good about it?âÈë

Aline rolled her eyes. âÈêTheyâÈçre sort of ignoring it, like it might go away if they donâÈçt talk about it.âÈë Clary remembered what Isabelle had said about the ClaveâÈçs attitude toward its gay members. If it happens, you donâÈçt talk about it. âÈêBut it could be worse.âÈë

âÈêIt could definitely be worse,âÈë said Alec, and there was a grim edge to his voice that made Clary look at him sharply.

AlineâÈçs face melted into a look of sympathy. âÈêIâÈçm sorry,âÈë she said. âÈêIf your parents arenâÈçtâÈ'âÈë

âÈêTheyâÈçre fine with it,âÈë Isabelle said, a little too sharply.

âÈêWell, either way. I shouldnâÈçt have said anything right now. Not with Jace missing. You must all be so worried.âÈë She took a deep breath. âÈêI know people have probably said all sorts of stupid things to you about him. The way they do when they donâÈçt really know what to say. I justâÈ'I wanted to tell you something.âÈë She ducked away from a passer-by with impatience and moved closer to the Lightwoods and Clary, lowering her voice. âÈêAlec, IzzyâÈ'I remember once when you guys came to see us in Idris. I was thirteen and Jace wasâÈ'I think he was twelve. He wanted to see Brocelind Forest, so we borrowed some horses and rode there one day. Of course, we got lost. BrocelindâÈçs impenetrable. It got darker and the woods got thicker and I was terrified. I thought weâÈçd die there. But Jace was never scared. He was never anything but sure weâÈçd find our way out. It took hours, but he did it. He got us out of there. I was so grateful but he just looked at me like I was crazy. Like of course heâÈçd get us out. Failing wasnâÈçt an option. IâÈçm just sayingâÈ'heâÈçll find his way back to you. I know it.âÈë

Clary didnâÈçt think sheâÈçd ever seen Izzy cry, and she was clearly trying not to now. Her eyes were suspiciously wide and shining. Alec was looking at his shoes. Clary felt a wellspring of misery wanting to leap up inside her but forced it down; she couldnâÈçt think about Jace when he was twelve, couldnâÈçt think about him lost in the darkness, or sheâÈçd think about him now, lost somewhere, trapped somewhere, needing her help, expecting her to come, and sheâÈçd break. âÈêAline,âÈë she said, seeing that neither Isabelle nor Alec could speak. âÈêThank you.âÈë

Aline flashed a shy smile. âÈêI mean it.âÈë

âÈêAline!âÈë It was Helen, her hand firmly clamped around the wrist of a younger boy whose hands were covered with blue wax. He must have been playing with the tapers in the huge candelabras that decorated the sides of the nave. He looked about twelve, with an impish grin and the same shocking blue-green eyes as his sister, though his hair was dark brown. âÈêWeâÈçre back. We should probably go before Jules destroys the whole place. Not to mention that I have no idea where Tibs and Livvy have gone.âÈë

âÈêThey were eating wax,âÈë the boyâÈ'JulesâÈ'supplied helpfully.

âÈêOh, God,âÈë Helen groaned, and then looked apologetic. âÈêNever mind me. IâÈçve got six younger brothers and sisters and one older. ItâÈçs always a zoo.âÈë

Jules looked from Alec to Isabelle and then at Clary. âÈêHow many brothers and sisters have you got?âÈë he asked.

Helen paled. Isabelle said, in a remarkably steady voice, âÈêThere are three of us.âÈë

JulesâÈçs eyes stayed on Clary. âÈêYou donâÈçt look alike.âÈë

âÈêIâÈçm not related to them,âÈë Clary said. âÈêI donâÈçt have any brothers or sisters.âÈë

âÈêNone?âÈë Disbelief registered in the boyâÈçs tone, as if sheâÈçd told him she had webbed feet. âÈêIs that why you look so sad?âÈë

Clary thought of Sebastian, with his ice-white hair and black eyes. If only, she thought. If only I didnâÈçt have a brother, none of this would have happened. A little throb of hatred went through her, warming her icy blood. âÈêYes,âÈë she said softly. âÈêThatâÈçs why IâÈçm sad.âÈë

Media reviews

Citations

• Entertainment Weekly, 05/18/2012, Page 79
• Hornbook Guide to Children, 01/01/2013, Page 93
• Kirkus Reviews, 06/15/2012, Page 0
• School Library Journal, 07/01/2012, Page 92
• Voice of Youth Advocates, 08/01/2012, Page 276